iOS 5 Multitasking Gestures Not Compatible With Original iPad - Frustrates Many Users

[Akshay Masand]

While all the hype recently has been about the iPhone 4S, Apple’s iOS 5 update is also still in the process of receiving feedback, and not all of it is positive. Original iPad users who upgraded to iOS 5 are discovering that their first generation tablets won’t be getting multitasking gestures. This was actually quietly updated by Apple recently on their iOS features page for clarification as well.

According to the the iOS 5 features page (originally), first generation iPad owners running on iOS 5 should have the option of “using four or five fingers, swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen and swipe left or right to switch between apps.” Apple was quick to change the US version of the iOS features page but has yet to fix the UK version along with several other international versions of the page (at least at the time of writing this article). Many people have complained about it on the Apple support forums but the company has yet to comment publicly. Instead they have been removing some of the more frustrated posts from their forums and making adjustments to the site to clarify it is iPad 2 only.

It’s generally common for limitations to arise between different hardware versions but owners of the original iPad are particularly frustrated because an Xcode hack previously gave them the same multitasking gestures on iOS 4.3. This seems more like a bad move on Apple’s part and will hopefully be addressed in the near future.

In the meantime, did any of you notice the issue? If so, how do you feel about it? Share any thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

Source: Apple Support Forums

[NakedFaerie]

I enabled it when I jailbreaked and it works fine.
It's even available for iPhone 4 when you jailbreak.

More reasons to jailbreak your device. If Apple are going to turn features off then jailbreak to turn them back on.

[Beastly L92]

Here's why...

Oblivious housewife to Apple Store dude -

"I wanna do the pinchy thingy like on the commercials."

Apple Store dude to oblivious housewife -

"Oh, well then you'll need this iPad 2 3G 64Gb."

[goonerm3]

Why dont I get multitouch on my brand new iPhone 4s that cost me 739$

[k0mpresd]

Why dont I get multitouch on my brand new iPhone 4s that cost me 739$

because the screen is so tiny its hardly worth it.

[eightyk88]

Here's why...

Oblivious housewife to Apple Store dude -

"I wanna do the pinchy thingy like on the commercials."

Apple Store dude to oblivious housewife -

"Oh, well then you'll need this iPad 2 3G 64Gb."

And the thing is in the Apple iDevice sales do come as easy as this. She will likely leave the store with the 32 "G.B.s" because she "doesn't do all that" but she'll take the "ThreeGs... just in case."

[goonerm3]

because the screen is so tiny its hardly worth it.

TBH Apple should have included it anyway and let the user be the judge as to wether or not its worth it. Hopefully we'll be able to activate it with a jailbreak tweak.

[colacao82]

I enabled it when I jailbreaked and it works fine.
It's even available for iPhone 4 when you jailbreak.

More reasons to jailbreak your device. If Apple are going to turn features off then jailbreak to turn them back on.

What do I search for in Cydia to find that? I looked at "enable multitouch gestures" but it says it only works on 4.3.1 only...
Any advice much appreciated!

Thanks

[codvisp]

What do I search for in Cydia to find that? I looked at "enable multitouch gestures" but it says it only works on 4.3.1 only...
Any advice much appreciated!

Thanks

Search for "MT Gestures Themes" in Cydia and voila!

[colacao82]

Search for "MT Gestures Themes" in Cydia and voila!

Thank You!!

[L0giX]

yeah i noticed and it sucked balls... but i now have sold it and have a faster ipad 2...

[duromega]

yeah i noticed and it sucked balls... but i now have sold it and have a faster ipad 2...

? Guat?

[mustard05]

I would be pissed if I owned an I pad 1. I know it was available on the device with x code. What a way to poop on millions of people. Between this and Siri not available for customers outside the US, this is unacceptable. But hey, what can you do?

[Hillefied]

I'm not the least bit concerned about Apple's overbearing control over what device gets what features. I get that older devices run sluggishly and don't have the hardware to run features smoothly, but it should still be accessible at my descretion. I am thankful for the dev boys and girls who work diligently to provide awesome support to iDevice owners by use of the jailbreak. It is amazing what doors are opened just by jailbreaking.

Standing Ovation

Bows

Curtain

... Seriously though. Special thanks to all the dev teams taking the iDevice experience beyond the boundaries of limitation.

[MetallicaFan1991]

TBH Apple should have included it anyway and let the user be the judge as to wether or not its worth it. Hopefully we'll be able to activate it with a jailbreak tweak.

OMG. The iPhone screen is too small for 3-4 finger gestures. It's pointless.

[neoghost]

OMG. The iPhone screen is too small for 3-4 finger gestures. It's pointless.

OMG, maybe impossible with your fat fingers! It works great here on my iPhone.

[Cokeman]

I don't see the reason for leaving it off the iPad. My gripe is Siri not available for my iPad 2, that has the same CPU as the 4S & runs at faster speed.

[teej1410]

Sigh, can't wait for an untethered jailbreak for iOS 5. I don't want to downgrade back to 4.3.3.

[g12007]

OMG, maybe impossible with your fat fingers! It works great here on my iPhone.

lol

[Victor_inox]

I don't see the reason for leaving it off the iPad. My gripe is Siri not available for my iPad 2, that has the same CPU as the 4S & runs at faster speed.

+1 WTF Apple?